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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This was written and originally recorded by Oklahoma blues guitarist J.J. Cale. Clapton recorded his version a year after Cale's was released. Clapton has recorded several songs written by Cale, including "After Midnight" and "Travelin' Light." In 2006, Clapton and Cale recorded an album together called The Road To Escondido.

Cale's version was a B-side. He recorded it in a Jazz style before giving it a Rock arrangement.

The lyrics are about drug addiction. Clapton did lots of drugs in the early '70s; he got off drugs in 1974 and struggled with alcoholism in the late '70s and early '80s. He eventually started a rehab center in Antigua to help others who are fighting addiction.

Bob Rivers released a parody of this called "Cobain," making fun of Kurt Cobain's drug use. Cobain killed himself shortly after it was released.

This is a very famous song, but it was never released as a single.

Glyn Johns produced this. He had previously worked with Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.

Clapton included this on his 1980 live album Just One Night (Live At Budokhan). The version from this show was released as the B-side of "Tulsa Time," which was also taken from the show.

In 1988, Elton John and Mark Knopfler joined Clapton on stage to perform this at the 6th annual Prince's Trust Rock Gala. Proceeds from the show went to charity.

At one point, Clapton removed this song from his set list because he thought it gave the wrong message about cocaine use. He started playing it again after he rearranged the song to include the line, "That dirty cocaine" into the choruses. (thanks, Dan - New York, NY)

Comments:

I remember playing this over and over in the arcade in 80.
- lisa, melrose, WI

Growing up we always thought that one of the verses said..... Legalize... Legalize... Legalize.. COCAINE. Maybe We just wanted it to say that lol.. but Thats how a group of us used to sing it. Oh the young and innocent... just thought I'd share !~
- Kenzi, Riverside, UT

this here is a gr8 song...best part is the simplicity of the basic notes...easy to pick up unlike say hotel calif...and this gives u a lot of room to "IMPROVISE" or improvisation as said...give it a try & u'll feel real good
- nandha, Jamshedpur, India

Bear in mind - that most singer are not song writers. You would be hard pressed to find a band that didn't cover a song or sing someone else's song at some time or another...even the Beatles. It's a form of flattery really to be imitated. And yes it can get old, but you know no one says anything about Elvis (did he ever write anything?)There is an entire industry that write songs and sell them to record labels or to singers. And I believe Clapton wrote Layla, You Look Wonderful Tonight, Tears in Heaven...Oh, and Clapton is a master guitarist! In fact his songs are some of the most difficult for musicians to master or "cover" because he often would tune his guitar to a minor third and play in a different position. He also played in the band Cream and wrote song with them so to say he "never" wrote anything and is a scum bag - not sure why would would think that. And also, if you hate him so why you would bother to comment at all...
- Linc, Beaumont, TX

blake is right. clapton was not graet, not good, not even descent. he was a washed up scum bag who had no originality and did covers. poeple who covered his songs made them famous, then years later people realize that clapton actually wrote and recorded it but it flopped so people like jimi hendrix had to cover it to make clapton look like he actually had something ggod out there. clapton bit big guys. he bit the big hairy one. sorry, that's the trurh.
- robert, los angeles, CA

ok this song is pretty cool not the coolest ever but cool. I would have to agree with josh from westborough.
- blake, tahlequah, OK

When did Eric Clapton's version play on the air? Was it 1980 or sooner?
- MARK, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

This is the best song by Eric Clapton..i think its so catchy and it has a good rythem
- Avery, Bucksport, ME

i'm not sure, but i THINK this song is about cocaine. can someone clarify??? OF COURSE IT'S ABOUT COCAINE U (non-nice persons)!
- Josh, Westborough, MA

sorry about that tirade in the above message. this song had a lot to do with studio 54. u would walk in and see 1000s of half-naked people, others behind the curtains having sex, and on the balcony they'd be serving cocaine. clapton was saying, if u wanted to hang out there, u pretty much had to do cocaine. otherwise, watching fat, naked senior citizens dancing might not be the way u want to spend ur saturday night.
- Josh, Westborough, MA

MeL, South Australia, Best clapton song??? only if this is the only one you've heard, come on, he has a huge list of amazing songs, this is good, but not the best sorry
- Jared, Sacramento, CA

The original song lyrics were "Champaign", not "Cocaine".
- Ben, Charlotte, NC

Love J J Cale's version. The song has one of the greatest riffs ever created.
- Guy, Wellington, New Zealand

Actually, the song was released as a single. Just got finished playing it on my turntable. It was the live version, released on the RSQ label in 1980. The flip side of the 45 is the song "Tulsa Time".
- Mike, Hastings, NE

Fun fact, Clapton stopped playing it for a while because he felt it gave people the wrong message about cocaine. When he brought it back to his set list, he arranged it so that the backup singers repeat the line, "that dirty cocaine." I dunno, i think its interesting.
- Dan, New York, NY

This song is definitely about Cocaine. I don't know how you could say otherwise, just look at the lyrics, this is how I see it: If you wanna hang out you've got to take her out. Cocaine. If you wanna get down, down on the ground. Cocaine. She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie; Cocaine. The first verse is a bit ambiguous. The second line, "If you wanna get down" is straightforward, Cocaine. And the third, well I take this to mean, "Cocaine don't lie, cocaine don't lie, cocaine don't lie." Basically, things come out when you are on Cocaine that generally tend to be the truth. "When your day is done and you wanna run. Cocaine." Basically, when you're feeling beat and need that pick-me-up, Cocaine. "Don't forget this fact, you can't get it back. Cocaine." I think of this as an innocence thing. Once you do it, you've done it and can't go back. It's always with you.
- John, Southampton, PA

how ironic is it that some artists best material came out during their lowest times... best clapton song...
- MeL, SoutH AustraliA, Australia

Pinkard and Bowden did a classic parody titled "Propane". You gotta hear it. It's HILARIOUS.
- Zoloft, Milton, WV

Theres no puns or metaphors to make you think anything else! It is strictly about cocaine as the song is titled. Look up the cause an effects of cocaine but view it as what the consumer sees an how it makes you feel! Its speed and hes describing it when you want to do it. Come on people, its not like your all angels on here someone can relate this!
- danielle, west chester, OH

I think the song is talking about cocaine for the first verse, saying god knows what. Then its' saying what it does to you in the second verse and saying it's bad at the very end but i dunno. Kinda vague. And there's nothign wrong with making a parody about Kurt Cobain. He was popular at the time and that was before he died, so it wouldn't be like disrespecting the dead
- Kartik, Peace River, Canada

I know what you mean Robert. It's another way of saying "Duh!!"
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

Seriously, is this song about drugs???
- j, atl, GA

Could it possibly be about a girl named cocaine. Erics mom doesnt like her, but he continues to see her anyway? Just a thought.
- Cory, Boonville, IN

"Jimi's version is very good too." I think this came about after he died, so that would be quite a feat in itself. B.t.w. calling J.J. Cale a blues player is stretching things a bit.
- Martijn, Helmond, Netherlands

Does anyone agree with me that this song satirizes drug use more than promotes it? The lyrics are sort of built like a cheesy commercial for the new product "Cocaine".
- Ali, East Lansing, MI

Actually, Tim, someone did do "Rogaine". I don't remember who did it, but I do remember hearing it on Dr. Demento's radio show in the early 1990s.
- Gerald, Stockton, CA

Daniel from Australia. C'mon! I think most people would be surprised if the song wasn't about drugs. Hence the name cocaine.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC

I'd like to hear somebody do a "Rogaine" version (if it hasn't been done already.)
- Tim, Oklahoma City, OK

My theory is that this song is about Drugs.
- Daniel, Werribee, Australia

Bob Rivers is a jackass! How dare he release a song making fun of Kurt Cobain (I'm enraged even though it was 11 years ago).
- Matt, Millbrae, CA

This song is # 58 on Guitar World magazine's 100 greatest guitar solos list.
- Dan, city, CA

A live version of this was released around 1980, I remember the radio would play it a lot, I think it got to around #5 in the charts. And it went on and on and on way longer than it should have.
- Liquid Len, Ottawa, Canada

i like Eric Clapton, and he is one of the greatest guitarest ever, but ever notice how most of his songs are covers, in hs solo career and also with Cream they had many covers
- blake, kennesaw, GA

my friend and i both thought it would be a good idea for the senior song our freshman year-because his brother and his friends were all into coke
- Brady, Fort Stockton, TX

this is probably the coolest, most badass song ever
- Victor, Vienna, VA

Jimi's version is very good too
- Andrew, Springfield, MO